Trench shoring apparatus



t- 13 1959 K. B. EvERsoN, JR 2,908,140

TRENCH AsHoRING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y -Filed June 14, 1955 ASPlllI

vwl W f im "en L" im f' BY @www AVTTORNE YS.

TRENCH sHoRING APPARATUS ATTORNEYS.

1 Oct. 13,1959 K. B. EvERsoN, JR 2,908,140

TRENCH sHoRING APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1955 4 sheets-sneetjs INVENTOR.[YJ/'Ae 25. 7l/arson, Jie

mwa/@WM ATTQR'NEYS.

Oct. 13, 1959 K. B. EvERsoN, JR 2,908,140-

TRENCH sHoRING APPARATUS Filed June 14, Y1955 4 sheets-sheet 4 I `\:7 fl I Ils/VENTORy 2.9, i 29' 2 /f zke ,525i/arson, Jr.

A BY

9 32 y ATTORNEYS.

nited States Patent The invention relates to a trench shoring apparatus.An object of the invention is 'to provide an apparatus of the abovecharacter wherein shoring or trench lining members will be advanced soas to follow and line the sides of the trench as the excavating thereofproceeds.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the abovecharacter so constructed` as to be readily assembled at the location ofuse and dismantled for transportation and storage thereof;

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction as will be more fully described andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a trench shot-ing apparatus embodying myinvention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational-view-pon alarger scale of a fragmentaryportion of a side' of-.the apparatus as.

viewed in the directionof thearrows online 2-2 of Figurel with certainelements omitted;

Figure 3 is a plan View of a fragmentary portion of the side of theapparatus shown'in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is'a similar plan viewl but showing the leadi' ing end portionof the apparatus;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a fragmentary portion of th apparatus,showing its relation to a blocking member;

Figure 6 is a' sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 2; Figure 7is a perspective view of an upright section of the frame of theapparatus without the bearing members; t

Figure 8 is a similar view looking at theopposite side 2,908,140Patented Oct. `13, 1959 ice during the excavation thereof, and the speedof advancement of the apparatus is limited only by the speed of theexcavation. The hydraulic cylinders are intended to be actuated in aknown manner and controlled in a manner whereby a single cylinder may beactuated or a plurality thereof may be actuated simultaneously.apparatus is so constructed that the supporting frame is propelledforwardly along the trench by the` hydraulic cylinders which are usedfor advancing the lining members. The apparatus is adjustable as towidth and for dening the path of movement of the lining members.

The invention is shown embodied in an apparatus illustrated in thedrawings which comprises a frame 10 preferably made of telescopingtubular material, as by way of example steel tubing and/or iron pipefabricated in a manner so as to be easily dismantled for transportationand storage and for assembling at the Vlocation of use. The frame 10 isgenerally rectangular and has side portions 11, 12 which are composed ofsimilar upright units 13 (see Figure 7) having a tubular post 14 withhorizontally extending tubular sections 15, 15' hereinafter to bereferred to as pipe sections at the upper portion thereof secured as bywelding, the connection being reinforced by gusset plates 16 also weldedin position. These sections 15, 15 of the spaced units are in line witheach other and extend from opposite sides ofthe post in the longitudinaldirection'ofthe frame. Similar pipe sections 17, 17 are similarlydisposed and secured at the lower end portion of the post v14 andreinforced by gusset plates 18. There is also secured at the upperportion of the post 14a pipe section 19 which extends in the plane ofsections 15,-15 but'at `right angles thereto. This section 19 is weldedto the post and reinforced by gusset plates 20. Double uprights suchas,13, 13 occur at some locations.

The upright units 13 are detachably connected to each otheri-,at theirupper portion to form a side such as 11 or 12 b'ytubular stringers 21which are telescopically reof the section of Figure 7 and showingbearing members secured thereto;

Figure 9 is a plan view of a bearing .shown in Figure 8;

Figure l0 is a sectional View taken along line 10'-10 of Figure 9; and

Figure 11 is an elevational view of a fragmentary tion of an end uprightof-the apparatus.

In carrying out my invention', I provide a rigid frame on which ismounted a plurality of roller bearings which serve as tracks forsupporting and advancing horizontally extending shoring or trench walllining members. These lining members are fabricated of sheet metal intochannels within the walls of which are received the said rollerbearings. These channels are individually advanced by means of hydrauliccylinders during the excavating of the trench and are made of a,'lengthto aiford ample time for workmen to lay pipe or conduit and seal thejoints prior 'to the trailing endof the lining members passing andexposing the sides of the trench at a given location. Thus, the shon'ngof the sides of the trench continues porceived in adjacent sections 15,15 and at their lower portions'by similar tubular stringers 22 which aresimilarly received in adjacent sections 17, 17. The side portions 11, 12are joined to each other only at their upper portion (see Figure 6) bytubular ties 23 which are telescopically received in. opposite' pipesections 19 of the said sides and detachably secured in adjustedposition by appropriate conventional fastenings 24.

Each upright with -the exception of the portion 13 of the double uprightcarries a plurality of bearing members designated generally 25 (seeFigures 6, 8, and 9) comprising a generally rectangular hollow body 2'6open at the ends and having a iight angularly extending bracket 2'] inwhich there is formed a semicircular recess 28 exbody 26 .carries aplurality of rotatable bearing rollers 29 at each end anda plurality ofsimilar rollers 29 along the opposite sides of the face thereof. Thebearings 425 are positioned on the outer side of the post 14, one abovethe other, as seen in Figures 6 and 8, and welded thereto, the recess 28being made on the radius of post 14 and received thereon, as shown inFigure 9.

The frame '10- thus far described forms a rigid support and roller guidefor trench lining members 30 which in the present instance-rarefabricated from sheet metal into general channel form. The gauge of thesheet metal is chosen to provide a rigid wall lining and yetsufficiently flexible to permit members 30 to ilex and be directed Thelother `than in a straight path as will hereinafter appear.

, These are mounted and supported on the bearings 25,

the side 31 (see Figure 10) engaging the rollers 29' and the side 32 therollers 29. The sides 32 of adjacent members 30 substantially contacteach other. Each member 30 is provided at spaced intervals with a pairof oppositely disposed lips" 33 which extend inwardly from the sides 32.into engagement with the rollers 29 atthe rear side of bearings 25.There is a pair of lips 33 at the location of each post.14 carryingbearings and these lips are of a greater length than the distance oftravel of the members so in all positions of advancement of the members30 the said lips will remain engaged l with the bearings 25. r

It will be apparent from thel foregoing description that the apparatushas a frame which is adjustable as to width and which is enclosed at theouter vertical sides thereof with closely adjacent trench lining members30, each yslidably mounted for lengthwise movement relative to frame 10on a roller guide or bearing at each post. 1 v

There is fastened to posts 14of portion 13 (see Figure 2) of the doubleunit a hydraulic cylinder 35 for each member 30. lThese cylinders extendin the space between the members 30 and the post 14' and are of thedouble acting type wherein the piston'thereof is reciprocated in bothdirections byy hydraulic iluid. The connect- Y ing rod 36 ofthe pistonisfattached to an abutmentw37 projecting from the adjacent` liner member30. l Upon l actuation of the hydraulic cylinder 35 in a known manner,the thrust of connecting rod 36 on abutment37 will move member 30k alongv bearings 25. Y v A,

In using the apparatus, a, length of trench-is excavated and theassembled-apparatus lowered therein; the` width of the apparatus havingbeen adjusted 'forthewidthof the trench. A back lilling of soilmayl-.nowrbervmade against the members' 3i) which will usually providesuicient frlctional contact |with the mernbersft)l toi oppose therearward thrust ofthe Vcylinder 35. `The leading-ends of the members 30on one 4side will be in line witheach other. I-t is contemplated toadvance theV members() during the excavation of the trench one ataptime.I In order to ease the advance of thev members 30 into the excessivesoil which may remain at the sides of the trench or to advance themembers 30 ahead of the excavation, a nose piece 38 (see Figures land 4)which is made in channel form in continuation of members 30 but of Ymuchheavier materialis secured in appropriate manner to the leading edge ofmembers 30. The nose piece 33 is cut inwardly to -a chisel edge as at39. The nose 38 lis made of a length equal to the distance ofadvancement of member 3i) at each advance stroke of the cylinder 35 and-will shear the excessive soil out'of its path of travel superimposedsections 13. .Y At the stant of an operation, the back till placed atthe the lloor of the trench whereby upon actuating of the raisetheapparatus and thus the apparatus may be leveled to the grade of thetrench. In someinstances the trench may extend on a curvature; toprovide forsuch condition, a hydraulic cylinder (see Figures 1 and 3)*issecured Lto a piper section 15' of one upright 13 of the double unit andto unit 13", and its connecting rdd 46 is attached to an abutment 47 onan adjacent section 15 of a next upright 13. A similar cylinder issimilarly attached to the pipe section 17, 17. Thus, upon actuating ofsaid cylinders 45, the spacing between sections 13 may be changed. As byway of example, assume the trench to follow a curved path graphicallyindicated by broken lines 48 at the right of Figure l, the cylinders 45would be actuated to increase the spacing between sections 13, the vother and securing one' to another in a rigid manner by y a lengthOftubular sectiony (not shown) frictionally received in the adjoiningends of the posts 14 of the said sides of the apparatus may not Ain someinstances result in suiiicient frictional engagement on the apparatusvto provide thenecessary opposing force to the forward thrust of thepistons in cylinders 35.' In order to provide for such condition,-abutrnents indicated generally 50 (see Figures 1 and l1) are providedat the upper and lower portion of upright section indicated 13f of eachside 11 and 12. These abutments (see Figures 5 and l1) are formed bylengths of pipe sections 51, 52, andiiattached as by 4welding to each ofsaid sections 13". A'plank or the like'54 may be inserted in the spacebetween pipe section 51 and'adjacent pipe section 19 to extend in thespace between pipe sections 52 and 53. The trench may now be back filledat the rear of planks 54, whichfbaclc fill against the planks willresult in providing the necessary resistance to rearward movement of theapparatus upon forward thrust of the cylinders 35 against members 30.

or may be moved into the soil a distance slightly in acl-v Vance of theexcavation depending upon the nature of the soil encountered.

In operation, the cylinders 35 will be connected to a suitable powersource (not shown) and controlled by? known valve means to actuate eachcylinder independently so that each member 30 may be advanced to followthe excavating of the trench or slightly ahead thereof to line the wallsof the trench with members 30. When all the members 30 have beenadvanced the predetermined distance (the length of the stroke of thecylinders 35), all the cylinders 35 are actuated simultaneously in the-reverse order. The frictional contact of members 30 against the sidesvof the trench will result in an opposing force much greater than theopposing force of the frame 10 to the rearward thrust of the cylinders35 and the frame 10v will advance along the members 30 as a track uponthe reverse stroke of the hydraulic pistons.

are secured to the lower .portion of the posts 14 of all but the unit13' of the double upright units.. The piston rod.

42 is adapted to engage against a block 44 positioned on I claim:

l. A trench shoring apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be movedalong the trench lloor, said frame having two `vertical sides withtransverse horizontal supporting stringers therebetween, each sidecomprising a plurality of guide means horizontally aligned in aplurality of horizontal rows one above the other, a trench lining membersupported on each guide means and adapted for horizontal movementrelative thereto and a motor means for each lining member coupledto theadjacent side of the frame and to one of said members.

2. A trench shot-ing apparatus `according to claim 1 wherein said liningmembers are metal channels having side and bottom walls supported insaid guides with the bottom wall face thereof facing outwardly.

3. A' trench shoring .apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said motormeans are hydraulic cylinders.

4. A trench shoring apparatus according to claim l whereinsaid sidescomprise a plurality of tubular upright sections and said stringers aretubular with telescopicallyrelated portions. v

5. A ,trench shoring framehaving opposite side portions held in spacedrelation to each' other by transverse stringers, each side porv-= tionprovided with a plurality of upright sections; a pluf e.; rality ofhorizontal rowsof roller bearings secured to said uprights inlsuperimposed relation'vvith the bearings on one upright horizontallyaligned with the bearings on the apparatuslcomprising an open Y otheruprghts, a trench lining member supported and slidable along thebearings of each row, said lining members being of a length to extend asubstantial distance beyond the frame, and a hydraulic cylinder for eachof said lining members each cylinder secured to an upright section withthe piston rod thereof attached to an adjacent lining member, each ofIsaid cylinders connected to a source of pressure whereby actuation ofsaid cylinders Will cause a relative movement between said frame and amember.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSv WilsonAug. 5, 1947

